AUTOMATIONS
AUTOMATIONS FOR EVERYTHING
Automation can do a variety of things in plastics manufacturing, opening up new possibilities for manufacturers to reach new markets and customers.
Automation allows companies to make lower volume products, whether it’s 3D printing or special molding machines. Rather than dropping parts from your catalog or storing three year’s worth of units in the warehouse, automation and additive manufacturing can let you produce a few small parts at one time without storing them on a dusty shelf.
Automated visual inspections can help manufacturers ensure they’re producing consistent batches of products that are free of defects as well as ensuring that each unit has or does not have specific elements, and that each product is in compliance with specific requirements.
Companies can reduce the numbers of human-related rejections and errors through automation, especially in the steps of the process where they’re most likely to happen. Some medical-molding equipment requires very strict installation and operational procedures, and an automated system could handle the removal and inspection of each part.
Automation can also reduce risks of serious injury where operators are working in dangerous environments or are moving parts and components that require special handling. They’re also ideally suited for clean rooms, where the risk of contamination from human workers is an ongoing fight with special equipment and systems.
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Pick & Place System
Pick and place robots are commonly used in modern manufacturing environments. Pick and place automation speeds up the process of picking up parts or items and placing them in other locations. Automating this process helps to increase production rates. Pick and place robots handle repetitive tasks while freeing up human workers to focus on more complex work.
How pick and place robots work
Typically mounted on a stable stand, pick and place robots are positioned to reach different areas to perform work. They use advanced vision systems to identify, grasp and move objects from one place to another. With a variety of design options available, pick and place robots can be configured with various end-of-arm tooling options for use in different applications, such as assembly, packaging or bin picking. For example, pick and place robot systems may be used to pick up items for an order and place them in a box for packaging, or they may be used to pick up parts needed for assembly and move them to the next location.
Retrofitting Of Machine
A machine shop can benefit from retrofitting a manual or CNC centerless grinder with a new computer numerical control via increased accuracy or improved productivity for less than purchasing a new centerless grinder. A retrofit may be worthwhile even if the grinder is slightly older but working well, because the machine shop will be able to avoid the headache of parts and service becoming less available as the grinder gets older.A retrofit of a centerless grinder with a CNC, however, goes beyond the operator panel, the control cabinet and their wires